Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ahn (U.S. Pub. No. 20220281648).
Regarding Claim 1, Ahn discloses a storage device (figure 2a) incorporating a liquid-tight sealing system (figure 1) comprising a threaded container 10 (figure 2a) comprising a bottom (Figure 1), a sidewall (figure 2a) comprising a top (figure 2a), an inner surface (figure 2a), an outer surface (figure 2a) and container threads 14 (Figure 3) on the outer surface near the top of the sidewall (figure 2a), and a threaded lid 20 (Figure 3) comprising a short sidewall (figure 2a) comprising lid threads 24 (figure 3) on an interior surface of the short sidewall (Figure 2a), and a cover (figure 2a) surrounded by and integral to a top of the short sidewall (figure 2a), and an annular channel (figure 2a) near the short sidewall and integral to an inner side of the cover (figure 2a), the annular channel open toward the bottom of the threaded container and configured for receiving the top of the sidewall (figure 2a), and the annular channel defined by innermost and outermost nesting sides (figure 2a) on each side of a top of the annular channel (figure 2a), and the innermost nesting side configured to push outwardly against the inner surface at the top of the sidewall (figure 2a), such that a first liquid-tight seal (figure 2a) is configured to be joined between the container threads and the lid threads are configured so that when the threaded container and the threaded lid are screwed together (figure 2a) the lid threads are underneath and contact the container threads (Figure 2a), and second and third liquid-tight seals (figure 2a) are configured to be joined when the innermost nesting side of the annular channel pushes outwardly against the top of the sidewall (figure 2a), the second liquid-tight seal being configured to be joined between the innermost nesting side and the inner surface of the sidewall (figure 2a), and the third liquid-tight seal being configured to be joined between the outermost nesting side and the outer surface of the sidewall (figure 2a).
PNG
media_image1.png
714
892
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding Claim 2, Ahn discloses each of the inner surface and the outer surface comprises a knob (figure 2a).
Applicant is duly reminded that a complete response must satisfy the requirements of 37 C.F. R. 1.111, including: “The reply must present arguments pointing out the specific distinctions believed to render the claims, including any newly presented claims, patentable over any applied references. A general allegation that the claims “define a patentable invention” without specifically pointing out how the language of the claims patentably distinguishes them from the references does not comply with the requirements of this section. Moreover, “The prompt development of a clear Issue requires that the replies of the applicant meet the objections to and rejections of the claims.” Applicant should also specifically point out the support for any amendments made to the disclosure. See MPEP 2163.06 II(A), MPEP 2163.06 and MPEP 714.02. The ''disclosure'' includes the claims, the specification and the drawings.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 8/14/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Ahn does not teach the lid thread underneath the container threads, however, as seen above on the left side it is shown that the threads are shown to be that way. Applicant also argues that Ahn does not disclose the projections from the top of the side wall extend sideways, projections being two sides of a single width or being configured to move outward. There are no projections claimed and the side of the annular channel is configured to move outward and therefore only needs to be capable of outward movement. In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., projections) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Also, the side of the annular channel is configured to move outward and therefore only needs to be capable of outward movement.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIZABETH J VOLZ whose telephone number is (571)270-5430. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 11am-7pm est.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NATHAN JENNESS can be reached at (571)270-5055. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/E.J.V/Examiner, Art Unit 3733
/DON M ANDERSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3733